May is Arthritis Awareness Month! Yay!
When most people hear “Arthritis” they think of old people with creaky and swollen joints. This is called Osteoarthritis, which is most likely caused by general wear and tear and of course, aging. However the vast majority of arthritis cases affect people far younger. These are Rheumatic diseases which causes the body’s immune system to attack the joints. It is most common for symptoms to show up in your mid twenties.
I first showed symptoms when I was 22 but my disease wasn’t full blown until I was 26 or so. It started with foot pain when I was in the army. I saw my first orthopedist towards the end of basic training. I was told that the pain is due to my flat feet and stress fractures. Throughout my army service I saw numerous orthopedists and was misdiagnosed each and every time. My pain continued, grew worse, yet I persevered. Once I got discharged, I took it easy physically, yet the pain persisted and worsened. It wasn’t until I saw a foot and ankle specialist that I was finally pointed in the right direction. After examining my numerous x-rays and bone scans as well as a physical examination he concluded that there is no evidence of stress fractures, that I don’t have flat feet and there is nothing mechanically wrong with my foot. He recommended that I see a Rheumatologist. I had other symptoms as well but never made the connection with my foot pain. The minor pain I was experiencing in my hand wasn’t due to my daily guitar playing. I didn’t even notice the red spots on my head. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. And that was the day my life changed forever.
I was put on anti-inflammatories and a disease altering medication. Neither helped and my condition deteriorated. My foot got so swollen and sensitive that I couldn’t even put on a sock without experiencing excruciating pain. Driving was out of the question. I couldn’t apply pressure on the pedals. My left foot started to hurt as well. Then my spine, my neck, and eventually every joint in my hips. Before I knew it I could barely walk without the assistance of crutches. I received a few steroid injections in my feet that enabled me to walk. Yet life continued to become a challenge. Sure I complained a lot, but I’m not sure my friends realized exactly how much pain I was in - physically and emotionally. Being diagnosed with a life altering, painful chronic disease that has no cure is a lot to deal with. It didn’t help whenever I mentioned arthritis I was the butt of all too many jokes. I know my friends just didn’t really understand what I was going through, but it was hard not to ignore them…
I continued with more medications. There are two simultaneous treatments. The first dealing with the everyday pain and the other is a treatment with a disease altering drug that puts the disease in remission. The problem with the disease altering drugs is that they take months to work - if they work at all. After months and months on asulfazine and then methotrexate I was still in serious pain (and had some slight liver damage). There were two new drugs on the market, Enbrel and Remicade that were changing the face of treating arthritis. Unfortunately there was a worldwide shortage of Enbrel and Remicade was only approved by the Ministry of Health for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and not Psoriatic Arthritis. After a six month battle with the Ministry of Health and the support of an incredible doctor at Hadassah Hospital, I was finally given permission to receive the drug. Then I had to deal with my HMO. Remicade treatments don’t come cheap. They are infusions that are given in the hospital every two months and cost a few thousand dollars a pop. So after another long battle, I finally received permission for a regiment of treatments. Within hours of the first infusion of Remicade I felt a noticeable improvement. Within a few days about 80 percent of my pain went away. I’ve been getting Remicade treatments for about five years now. I struggle with pain daily, but it is tolerable (except on really cold days and extreme weather changes) and under control, though the daily fatigue and weakness can be pretty intolerable at times. I tire easily and have a really low energy level. But I persevere. Meet me on the street and you’ll have no idea that I have a chronic disease. It is something that for a short period of time had pretty much ruined my life. I have come to accept my limitations, embraced modern medicine and persevere day to day.
Though I am fairly confident I can still kick your ass.
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4 Responses to “May is Arthritis Awareness Month! Yay!”
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sorry to hear it buddy - thanks for educating us and sharing..
Hi Harry
sad to hear you suffer from arthritis…
that was very educational
How did you get into the tank unit with arthritis? It must have been tough!
Hi Annie, I was diagnosed after the army, though I started to develop symptoms while serving. There is no way I could have survived tanks with full blown arthritis.
Hi Harry,
Hope you remember me, I’m Josh Ellison’s dad. Read your column about Psoriatic Arthritis and really related to it. I was diagnosed over 15 years ago and finally have successfully been able to live with it for all these years. I take a combination of medicines daily (methotrexate and Lodine) and it’s now really under control. I have been able to make adjustments, I loved to bicycle ride, but had to give it up when everything flared up. I later discovered recumbent cycles that allow one to sit comfortably and ride without pressure on some of the joints. I also work with my hands in my new business building tables. It took quite a time to find the right dosage and medication, but now I have, it’s great!!! Hope (other than arthritis) you and your family are well, Best regards, David